NEWS REVIEW
SIHANOUKVILLE STEP-UP
BRIEFS Go for Greek Privatisation
The latest release of ports for privatisation in Greece has finally been undertaken. The Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF) is the agency responsible for privatising Greek stateowned assets and it has now issued three separate international public tenders to cover the development of the ports of Alexandroupolis, Igoumenitsa and Kavala.
Westport Harbour Rejuvenation
Cambodia is to build a deep-sea terminal at Sihanoukville spread over three phases as it prepares for rising container volumes. Construction of Phase 1 of the terminal is scheduled to start soon using designs already completed, Thay Rithy, Deputy Director General of Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, told the government controlled AKP news agency. “Now we have entered the stage of selecting builders. The construction will begin in 2021 and is scheduled to be completed by 2024,” he said. The first phase
of the deep-water port terminal will be built with a loan from Japan of US$209 million. The terminal will be 350m long and have with a water depth of 14.5m, allowing it to handle container vessels needing a draft of 13m and medium-sized ships with a capacity of 5,000 TEU – a significant step up for Cambodia. “At present, the ships entering and leaving here are small vessels, but to make the port a gateway of the country’s development and an independent economic gateway that connects Cambodia to other
8 Sihanoukville Autonomous Port is planning a “step-up” in ship sizes
countries, leaders of line ministry and port are thinking of consecutive development plans,” he said. Studies for Phase II and Phase III have been made and the port is seeking funds from the ministry and development partners for work scheduled to begin in 2027 or 2028, Thay Rithy said. The plan is for the terminal to be expanded to 410m long and 16m deep for Phase II and then 440m long with 17.5m for Phase III.
CLEAR VISUALISATION FROM TGIBOX TGI Maritime Software (TGIMS) has launched an innovative new feature on its TGIBox - realtime visualisation of container handling equipment activity on a tablet display. This latest offering enables what the company calls “real time geolocalisation” of container handling for equipment on a maritime terminal. This means optimising container handling equipment in use with the known locations of containers to deliver the most effective performance for a particular handling function and overall. The new feature of TGIBox has
been developed in conjunction with SOMACOM to generate real-time visualisation. Use of the tablet ensures the equipment operator gains a clearer readability of positioning in the yard, which is especially valuable if working at night or during bad weather. Practical operating benefits include the lock/unlock phase of the handling process quickly and clearly shown directly on the screen, while a real-time alert is raised to the driver if the container is overweight. While the availability of information to the driver in charge
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of handling a container is not a new concept and has been in use for some time, TGIBox works in a logical process that helps to optimise the efficient path of the mobile terminal equipment and builds towards better productivity. The product delivers clear and precise information using rugged and robust equipment, that can withstand the rigours of continuous use in a busy container terminal, while ultimately helping to improve performance, reduce costs and minimise risk/enhance safety at all times.
Westport Harbour is targeting commercial cargo shipping opportunities, following receipt of a NZ$7 million Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) commitment from the New Zealand Government. The PGF endorses the project’s business case, which includes retaining the purpose-built dredge Kawatiri and investing in necessary decking, fencing and other “fit-for-purpose” facilities to complement the existing concrete wharf and to attract new bulk trades. Discussions are underway with West Coast Bulk Logistics over a new mineral sands exporting business.
San Pedro Truck Charge Hold
The two San Pedro ports in Southern California have delayed the US$10 per TEU surcharge aimed at helping the transition of the drayage fleet to 100 per cent zero emission trucks. The fee was due to be introduced in the Fall (Autumn) of 2020 but has now been postponed until “some time in the new year” due to ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and US-China trade issues.
SEPTEMBER 2020 | 11
